Asperger's syndrome is a high-functioning form of autism. Many individuals with Asperger's, both children and adults, require assistance performing daily routines and may benefit from the help of a case manager. If you wish to educate and inform your case managers about Asperger's syndrome, design an effective training series that puts them in their clients' shoes.

Show a Film

Since the discovery of Asperger's syndrome, many movies, both fictional and educational, have depicted the lives of people living with Asperger's. These include "Now't as Queer as Folk" (2003), "Billy the Kid" (2006), "I Am Ziggy" (2008), "Between Optical Area and Amygdala" (2007), "Adam" (2009), "Rainman Goes to Rockwiz" (2010), "A Mile in His Shoes" (2011) and "Bagpipes and Bullies" (2011). Choose a film that reflects the demographic of the individuals your case managers will be working with. A wealth of books and websites also study the topic.

Host a Speaker

Invite an individual with Asperger's to speak to your case managers about his experience. Have him come prepared to answer questions and to provide insight into the specific ways a person with Asperger's might benefit from having a case manager. Another authority on the topic would be the parent or guardian of an autistic person. Both a first-person and a third-person account of the syndrome will help to round out your case managers' knowledge on the subject.

Get in Their Shoes

Have your case managers take a self-reflective quiz where they rate the level of difficulty they themselves experience with certain mundane tasks. These can include maintaining eye contact, public speaking, meeting someone new, understanding nonverbal communication, empathizing with others, multitasking or performing simple daily routines. Many people, not just those with Asperger's, struggle with these. Once your case managers have rated themselves, have them reflect out loud about their answers to show how they might be able to better relate to their clients with the syndrome.

Brainstorm on the Positive

Rather than viewing Asperger's as a disease or a purely limiting condition, have your case managers brainstorm about the many gifts and aptitudes shared by persons with the syndrome. They should list specific examples from books, movies, articles and presentations they have studied as part of the training. Focusing on their clients' gifts will help them work from a strengths-based perspective and help their clients see themselves in a more positive light.

About the Author

Parker Janney is a web developer and writer based in Philadelphia. With a Master of Arts in international politics, she has been ghostwriting for several underground publications since the late 2000s, with works featured in "Virtuoso," the "Philadelphia Anthropology Journal" and "Clutter" magazine.